Our snow dances don't seem to be exuding the "I think I have the flu", call into work powder days. A friend of ours suggested we start having summer celebrations to aggravate the snow gods and get them to open up! All myths aside, what's the one thing we know we will do for sure? Make some warm cocktails and hope. Personally, we think making the most cold weathered, winter cocktails will give everyone the warm and fuzzies, if nothing else. No harm in that. Today we have found one, that honest to God stops us dead in our tracks:

Pour the steaming water over the chai tea bags in a heatproof mug. Let steep for 3 minutes, then remove the tea bags. Add the maple bourbon and half-and-half and stir to combine. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Double the Chai, double the fun as far as we're concerned. Grab a flannel and enjoy! And if you get more snow than us, stop enjoying and have a pina colada!

Finally. It FINALLY feels like summer! First Tuesday Cruise Day in the books, first sunburn, and first grill out have been checked off the list with this gorgeous beaming sunshine! We cannot be more excited for this upcoming wedding season, and upcoming camping season! We have brought you our favorite top 3 grill recipes for the next few months. (And hey, grill these up in the winter when you are missing summer, just make sure your significant other dresses warm ;)).

Here at Gold Leaf, we have roots in Chicago (Go Hawks!!) and the east coast, so hot dogs, are something we know. We know them well. We absolutely love this SUPER easy marinated and grilled hot dog recipe.

8 hot dogs (we used Hebrew National, but if you can get Vienna Beef, for the sake of all of us, do)

1/4 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp. olive oil

Make slits in your dogs, either vertically or horizontally and in a Ziploc bag combine: ketchup, garlic, Worcestershire Sauce, and oil. Place all dogs inside and let marinate for 25 minutes. Pop them on the grill for 3-5 and enjoy and all American classic.

This next one is a personal favorite of mine. I get this DELICIOUS chicken club here in town and it's made with grilled pineapple, guacamole, and bacon. Incredible. However I make mine with a Hamburger instead! We eat so much chicken I'm afraid we are going to grow feathers.

(Bacon is still in the oven). We love to make our own patties, well maybe not love. Combine: Hamburger meat, oregano, salt, pepper and SOMETIMES, a little shredded pepper jack. Mix everything together and form your patties. Place on a medium-hot grill for about 10-15 (I don't do the grilling, I'm the brains behind the execution). While the burgers are grilling, make your favorite guacamole: avocados, cilantro, lime, red onion, throw a little bit of everything in there (I like to incorporate my vegetables into the guacamole, these burgers tend to tower pretty high so the less you can stack on top the better). Bake your bacon in the oven (keeps it nice and crispy), and with about 3-5 minutes left on the burgers, place your pineapple slices (horizontally sliced) on the grill and get the perfect tangy sweetness out of them. Pile all together and dig-in. If you have read our recipes before, I have an obsession with arugula, so pile that on as well!

We LOVE salmon. Grilling it is a little on the tougher side but the end result is so worth it. This incredible recipe is thanks to Honeybear Lane, and we are forever thankful.

1-3 salmon fillets, depending on size

¼ cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt

¼ cup soy sauce

¼ cup olive oil

⅛ cup water

2-3 cloves minced garlic

Place all ingredients into a plastic bag, add your fish and marinate for up to 3 hours. 1 at least. When ready, make a foil dish with the sides rolled up, place the fish in and on the grill and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with a side of broccoli and good company :)